Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez says special assistant Jeff Conine a ‘chicken’ for remarks made on radio

Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez said special assistant Jeff Conine was “chicken” for making unflattering remarks about Ramirez on the radio.

“If he’s got a problem, just come over and talk to me like a man,” Ramirez told the Miami Herald today. “Don’t be a chicken, talking on the (radio), because whatever you say is going to stay out there.”
Ramirez also told the Herald his goal is to take away Conine’s moniker as ‘Mr. Marlin.’

While being interviewed on a Miami radio station last week, Conine said that if it were up to him he would trade Ramirez and that he gets frustrated with the shortstop on a nightly basis. He said he doesn’t think Ramirez respects the game enough.

“I think there are some nights where he doesn’t try as hard as he should,” Conine said.

Ramirez said Wednesday that Conine should have spoken to him privately instead of airing his opinions on the radio.

When asked if he gets along with Conine, Ramirez told the Herald, “I used to, yeah.”

“There are a lot of worse guys than me out there,” Ramirez said. “But nobody knows because nobody pays attention. When I’m on the field, I’m just being me. I’m playing my game. It’s how I’ve got to play. Nobody’s going to change me. What I get paid for is to win, respect each other, respect the organization. That’s what I do.”

Ramirez said he wants to remain with the organization for the rest of his career, have his number retired, and go into the Hall of Fame as a Marlin.

“I’m going to make it to the Hall of Fame being in a Marlins uniform,” he said. “This number (No. 2), nobody’s going to wear it.”